Transfusion needles

ABSTRACT

A transfusion device for transfusing fluid intravenously without causing inflammation at the site of entry. The device comprises a body portion having a through bore and a secondary bore communicating with the through bore and a sleeve projecting from the body portion to form a continuation of the through bore, the wall of the sleeve being provided with a plurality of perforations. In one embodiment of the invention, the tip of the sleeve is restricted to receive and seal against the tube of a catheter which is insertable through the through bore in the body portion and the sleeve, a first fluid being transfused through the catheter and a second fluid being transfused through the secondary bore, via the annular passage formed between the catheter and the sleeve to the perforations in the wall of the sleeve. In another embodiment of the invention, an integral inner wall is provided within the sleeve, the inner wall being imperforate and forming a continuation of the through bore which serves as a flow passage for the first fluid.

[ June 20, 1972 [54] TRANSFUSION NEEDLES [72] Inventors: Alan E. C. Bennett, 40, White Horse Drive, Epsom, Surrey; Michael Bewick, 12, Grenville Place, London, S.W.l., both of England 221 Filed: Sept. 17, 1969 21 Appl.No.: 858,593

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 19, 1968 Great Britain ..44,530/68 May 19, 1969 Great Britain ..25,421/68 [52] US. Cl ..l28/2l4.4, 128/240 [51] Int. Cl. ..A61m 05/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..l28/2l4,214.2,214.4, 221, 128/240, 241, 348, 347, 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,257,369 9 1941 Davis "128/349 2,564,977 8/1951 Hu ..l28/221 X 3,173,418 3/1965 Baran ..128/351 3,399,674 9/1968 Pannier et a]... 128/2144 3,470,869 10/1969 Fenton et al.... ..l28/2 3,520,298 7/1970 Lange ..l28/348 X OTHER PUBLICATIONS Cope, Journal of Thoracic & Card, Surgery, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 482- 486, Apr. 1959 Piazza et al. Trans. Amer. Soc. Artili. lnt. Organs, Vol. X, 1964,pp. 136-138 Primary ExaminerDalton L. Truluck Azt0rneySandoe, Hopgood and Calimafde [57] ABSTRACT A transfusion device for transfusing fluid intravenously without causing inflammation at the site of entry. The device comprises a body portion having a through bore and a secondary bore communicating with the through bore and a sleeve projecting from the body portion to form a continuation of the through bore, the wall of the sleeve being provided with a plurality of perforations. ln one embodiment of the invention, the tip of the sleeve is restricted to receive and seal against the tube of a catheter which is insertable through the through bore in the body portion and the sleeve, a first fluid being transfused through the catheter and a second fluid being transfused through the secondary bore, via the annular passage formed between the catheter and the sleeve to the perforations in the wall of the sleeve. In another embodiment of the invention, an integral inner wall is provided within the sleeve, the inner wall being imperforate and forming a continuation of the through bore which serves as a flow passage for the first fluid.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures TRANSFUSION NEEDLES BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION When fluid is transfused intravenously through a transfusion needle for long periods, movement of the patient is liable to irritate the tissue at the site of entry of the needle and this can cause inflammation. In addition, the part of the needle immediately outside the tissue cannot be kept sterile and movement of the patient can introduce an unsterile portion of the needle into the tissue. There is, therefore, a need for a surgical device which will eliminate or counteract the inherent dangers in both of these problems.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION A transfusion device comprising a body portion having a through bore therein, a tubular sleeve projecting from one end of the body portion so as to form a continuation of the through bore and a secondary bore extending into the body portion and communicating with the through bore, wherein the wall of the sleeve is formed with a plurality of apertures spaced along the length of the sleeve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation of a surgical device according to the invention for use with a conventional catheter,

FIG. 2 is an underplan of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device of FIG. 1 in combination with a conventional introducing needle,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the device in combination with a conventional catheter, and,

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through a transfusion needle forming a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT When a transfusion needle is used to transfuse a fluidintravenously into a patient, the needle tends to irritate the tissue at the site of entry setting up inflammation. In addition, that part of the transfusion needle which is outside the patients tissue becomes unsterile and, as a result of movement by the patient, the unsterile portion can enter the patients tissue.

These problems can be counteracted if the tissue at the site of entry is bathed in a permanent flow of anti-inflammatory fluid and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide means for bathing the tissue with an anti-inflammatory fluid at the site of entry of a transfusion needle.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a transfusion device is indicated generally at 10. The device comprises a body portion 11 and a tubular sleeve 12 which projects outwardly from one end of the body portion. Both the body portion and the sleeve are preferably formed from a synthetic plastics material such as Teflon as an integral one-piece moulding.

The body portion 11 is provided with through bore 13 which is coaxial with the sleeve 12, the sleever 12 thus forming a continuation of the bore 13. The outer end of the bore 13 is flared so as to provide a tapered fitting 14 adapted to receive the end fitting of a conventional catheter.

A secondary bore 15 is also provided in the body portion 11, the secondary bore extending from the rear face 16 of the body portion and communicating with the through bore 13 within the body portion. The secondary bore 15 is also provided with a flared outer end which forms a tapered fitting 17 adapted to receive an end fitting of a fluid drip tube.

The sleeve 12 is formed with a plurality of perforations 18 which are spaced along its length and the tip 19 of the sleeve is restricted so as to have a smaller internal diameter than the remainder of the sleeve.

The device 10 is used as follows. A conventional steel introducing needle 20, having a sharp point 21 is inserted through the end fitting 14, bore 13 and sleeve 12, so that the point 21 projects beyond the end of the sleeve as shown in FIG. 3. The introducing needle 20, with the device 10 mounted thereon is inserted into the patients vessel. When the device is in position, that is when the sleeve 12 hasbeen inserted into the patients tissue up to or adjacent the junction of the sleeve 12 with the body portion 11, the introducing needle 20 is withdrawn from the device. Immediately after the introducing needle has been withdrawn, a conventional catheter 22 is inserted in place of the introducing needle 20 as shown in FIG. 4. A conventional catheter is formed with a tapered end fitting 23 which seals as a friction fit in the end fitting 14 of the bore 13 and the reduced diameter tip 19 of the sleeve 12 forms a seal around the catheter 22 at the tip of the sleeve. The reduced diameter tip 19 of the sleeve also serves to centralize the catheter within the sleeve so as to create and maintain an annular fluid passage 24 between the outer surface of the catheter 22 and the inner surface of the sleeve 12. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the annular passage 24 forms a communication between the secondary bore 15 and the perforations 18 in the sleeve 12.

As soon as the catheter is in position in the device 10, a supply of transfusion medium is connected through a conventional luer fitting to the catheter and a supply of anti-inflammatory fluid is connected through a luer fitting to the end 17 of the secondary bore 15.

Thereafter the transfusion medium passes in the normal manner through the catheter into the vessel of the patient and the anti-inflammatory fluid passes through the secondary bore 15 and the annular passage 24 to the perforations 18 and from there to the inner surface of the patients vessel. The patients vessel is thus bathed with an anti-inflammatory fluid in the area of entry of the needle in the area of the tissue, thus eliminating or substantially reducing the likelihood of the needle causing inflammation at the site of entry. The anti-inflammatory fluid is then carried into the blood stream with the blood flow, with the transfusion medium passing through the catheter 22.

When the catheter and the device 10 have been withdrawn from the patients vessel and have been separated,-they can both be quickly and easily cleaned, for re-use, alternatively,

' they can be destroyed immediately after use.

An alternative embodiment of the invention is disclosed in FIG. 5 which shows a transfusion device 29 comprising an imperforate tube 30 having a forward portion 31 whichis surrounded by a sleeve 32 formed with perforations 33. A secondary tube 34 is mounted on the main tube 30 and commu nicates-with the annular gap between 'theforward projection 31 of the main-tube 30 and the sleeve 32.

Both the main tube 30 and the secondary tube 34 are provided with conventional luer fittings 35 and 36 respectively and the annular passage between the extension 31 of the main tube and the sleeve 32 is sealed adjacent the tip of the extension 31 which projects beyond the end of the sleeve 32. The device 29 is used in a similar manner to the device 10. A conventional hollow stilette, which is not illustrated is first inserted through the main tube 30 so that its point projects from the end of the extension 31. The device 29 is then inserted into the patients vessel and when in position, that is when it has been inserted up to or adjacent the point at which the secon dary tube joins the sleeve 32, the stilette is withdrawn from the device. Immediately the stilette has been withdrawn a supply of transfusion medium is connected to the luer 35 and a supply of anti-inflammatory fluid is connected to the luer fitting 36. Thereafter, the transfusion medium passes through the main tube into the patients vessel and the anti-inflammatory fluid passes through the perforations in the sleeve to the inner surface of the patients vessel.

Further minor modifications can be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is best described in the following claims.

What we claim is:

l. A method of treating tissue in the: area of entry of an intravenous transfusion needle comprising the steps of passing an anti-inflammatory fluid to the site of entry simultaneously with but separate from a transfusion medium, releasing the transfusion medium into the patients vein downstream of the site of entry, and releasing said antiinflammatory medium into the tissue at said site of entry.

2. The method of claim 1, in which said transfusion needle includes a member having a through bore formed therein for passing said transfusion medium therethrough, a tubular sleeve projecting from one end of said member and forming a continuation of said through bore, and a secondary bore having an entry and an outlet end communicating with said through bore for passing said anti-inflammation fluid therethrough, and a plurality of apertures spaced along substantially the entire length of said sleeve in communication with said through bore and the outlet of said secondary bore.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal diameter of said sleeve is reduced at or near the tip of said sleeve.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the entry end of said through bore is shaped to receive a catheter end fitting.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the entry end of said secondary bore is shaped to receive a luer fitting.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprises the steps of providing catheter having a flexible lumen and a catheter end fitting, and extending said lumen through said through bore so that it projects from the tip of said sleeve to form a first fluid passage, the catheter end fitting being attached to and sealed against said member and the reduced diameter portion of said sleeve to grip and seal against the lumen to space said lumen from the internal surface of the remainder of said sleeve and thereby provide an annular passage forming a second flow passage which communicates between said secondary bore in said member and the apertures in the wall of said sleeve, and which is sealed from said first flow passage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is double walled and comprises an outer tubular wall formed with said apertures and an inner, imperforate tubular wall which projects beyond the tip of the outer wall and the bore of which forms a first flow passage, wherein the annular passage formed between the inner and outer walls of said sleeve is closed at or adjacent the tip of the outer wall and forms a second flow passage which is sealed from the first flow passage and which communicates between the secondary bore in said member and said apertures in the outer wall of said sleeve.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the outer end of said through bore and the outer end of said secondary bore are shaped to receive a luer fitting. 

1. A method of treating tissue in the area of entry of an intravenous transfusion needle comprising the steps of passing an anti-inflammatory fluid to the site of entry simultaneously with but separate from a transfusion medium, releasing the transfusion medium into the patient''s vein downstream of the site of entry, and releasing said antiinflammatory medium into the tissue at said site of entry.
 2. The method of claim 1, in which said transfusion needle includes a member having a through bore formed therein for passing said transfusion medium therethrough, a tubular sleeve projecting from one end of said member and forming a continuation of said through bore, and a secondary bore having an entry and an outlet end communicating with said through bore for passing said anti-inflammation fluid therethrough, and a plurality of apertures spaced along substantially the entire length of said sleeve in communication with said through bore and the outlet of said secondary bore.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal diameter of said sleeve is reduced at or near the tip of said sleeve.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the entry end of said through bore is shaped to receive a catheter end fitting.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the entry end of said secondary bore is shaped to receive a luer fitting.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprises the steps of providing catheter having a flexible lumen and a catheter end fitting, and extending said lumen through said through bore so that it projects from the tip of said sleeve to form a first fluid passage, the catheter end fitting being attached to and sealed against said member and the reduced diameter portion of said sleeve to grip and seal against the lumen to space said lumen from the internal surface of the remainder of said sleeve and thereby provide an annular passage forming a second flow passage which communicates between said secondary bore in said member and the apertures in the wall of said sleeve, and which is sealed from said first flow passage.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is double walled and comprises an outer tubular wall formed with said apertures and an inner, imperforate tubular wall which projects beyond the tip of the outer wall and the bore of whiCh forms a first flow passage, wherein the annular passage formed between the inner and outer walls of said sleeve is closed at or adjacent the tip of the outer wall and forms a second flow passage which is sealed from the first flow passage and which communicates between the secondary bore in said member and said apertures in the outer wall of said sleeve.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the outer end of said through bore and the outer end of said secondary bore are shaped to receive a luer fitting. 